Spout unit for containers



Feb, 14, 1939. F. FuRr-:DY ,2,147,289

SPOUT UNIT FOR CONTAINERS l s m INVENTOR "l: RAN K Fu Ram' Feb. 14, 1939.- F, FUREDY 2,147,289v

sPoUT UNIT FOKCONTAINERS Filed Ilarch l, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. FRANK TUREDY BY Waff ATTDRNEY.

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,147,289 sPoUT Um'r ron coN'rAmERs Application March 1, 1937, Serial No. 128,365

17 Claims. (Cl. 221-27) This invention relates to pouring spout umts for containers and has to do more particularly with units of this character which provide for supporting a spout in extended and retractedv positions.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive unit which can be readily attached to a container and which includes a pouring spout and means to urge the same into operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit of the foregoing character with wiping means to prevent leakage about the spout member during its travel.

. Still another object of the invention is to relate the means for 'urging the spout into operative position to the wiping means in such a manner that eiiicient operation of the wiping means is always assured by the action of the urging means,

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a leak-proof, detachable snap cap which will hold the spout in retracted position, and will not interfere with the installation of a seal cap over the end of the unit.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

Pall spout units as heretofore employed have been subject to various drawbacks which it is the purpose of this invention to overcome. In the majority of such units heretofore employed wherein the spout member was retractable, the same had to be shed out with the fingers, had no means for holding it in operative position, and though inclined to be complicated in construction was not particularly rigid. In the types of units applying spring means to urge the spout into operative position, simplicity and economy have been sacrificed whenever an attempt has been made to include rigidity andthe prevention of 40 leakage in the saine structure. Another fault of this type has been that complete drainage of the container contents was precluded.

The instant invention, on the other hand, overcomes the disadvantages heretofore prevalent by providing a simple, complete unit the spout of which permits proper drainage and which can be secured to a container by a simple die pressing operation. 'Ihis unit in its preferred form has a single spring, both for urging the spout into oper- 5o ative position and maintaining the wiper gasket in proper location, which spring holds the spout in its operative position. Furthermore, a simple but effective snap cap is employed which permits the use of the customary seal cap during shipment, and will, in and of itself, provide adequate coverage for the spoutunit once the seal cap has been removed and intermittent use is made of the contents of the container.

For a fuller understanding of the 'nature and objects of the invention reference should be had 5 to the following detailed description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section' of a spout unit in accordance with the invention showing the unit 1o secured to a container head and with the spout sealed in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a view on the same section as Fig. 1 showing the spout in extended operative position;

Fig, 3 is an elevation with parts of the head l5 stock broken away to show the manner in which the snap cap is mounted in place Fig. 4 is a view similar'to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the' invention;

l Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section showing 2o the spout of Fig. 4 in extended operative position;

Fig 6 is an elevation with the head stock and parts of the unit below it in section showing the mounting of the snap cap;

Fig. 7 shows the snap cap employed in this in- 25 vention in perspective; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective fragments oi! the cap of Fig. '7 showing' modied forms of nge grips for the cap.

In Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings there is shown 30 at 3 a portion of the head of a container which may be a drum, a five gallon pail, or the like, normally used for the storing of gasoline, oil or some other liquid, portions of which are dispensed from time to time. Mounted in a depression in 35 head 3 is a spout unit generally indicated at A. This unit is provided with a mounting and supporting collar 4 provided at its bottom with an inwardly extending flange 5 around which is folded a reverse iiange l struck up from the stock 4o of head 3 around the edge of aperture l formed therein. Flange 5 being pressed between flange 6 and the opposing `portion 8 of drum stock 3 is held in place thereby and'provides a rigid support for .collar 4 which forms part of and carries 45 the sput unit. A gasket 9 interposed between anges Q and 6 assures against leakageat this joint.

Mounted to slide with no more clearance than is necessary between its surface and the facing l0 50 of aperture l is spout il. The top end of this spout is iianged outward at I2, while the bottom or inner end is flanged outward at i 3 and supports a gasket i4 which aids in the prevention of leakage by engaging the undersurface of portion 8 55 when the spout is in extended position. Supported on the lower side of ange I3 in any desired manner is a vent pipe I5. 'This pipe as shown is triangular in cross section for economy of construction but, of course, may be of any desired shape. The lower end of this pipe at I6 is in open communication with the bore of spout II, while the extension of the pipe angularly upward from point I5 assures that the upper end I1 will be above the level of the liquid in the container while pouring is taking place.

Surrounding spout II is a coil spring I8 which is shown in Fig. 1 as compressed between the underside of flange I2 and a gasket I9. Said gasket I9 is seated upon the upper face of flange 6 and surrounds spout I i in the form of an annulus which occupies the space between the inner sur'- face of collar 4 and the outer surface of spout I I. This gasket i5 is in wiping contact with the outer wall of spout II. Spring i8, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, has its end coils 2B and 2I bent into substantially horizontal planes whereby it will tend to move spout I i in a straight line path rather than produce a tilting action which might occur were the ends of the spring not engaging all around flange l2 and gasket I9. Spring I8, as shown in Fig. 2, is always compressed to some extent so has its ends always in contact with the undersuriace of ange I2 and the uppersurface oi gasket i9 even when the spout is in its extended operative position. Thus it will be obvious that the bottom coil 20 of the spring will tend to retain gasket I9 seated upon the upper surface oi iiange E and in wiping relation to spout I I, while the upper horizontal coil 2l of spring I8 in its engagement with the under surface of flange l2 will tend to prevent tilting of the spout even should the container be rested on the spout while pouring is taking place.

Pivotally mounted on collar 4 by means of a resilient clip 22 and a return bent tab 23 which surrounds the clip 22 is a snap cap 24. This cap is in the form of a disc with a depressed center 25 and with e. dependent collar 25 therearcund. Opposite tab 23 and extending down parallel thereto is retaining tab 2l which is inset slightly along its length to provide a shoulder 28 for purposes which will appear hereinafter. At its lower end tab 2l is bent outwardly and formed to provide a nger engaging ring 29. The upper end of collar 4 -is curled outwardly as shown at 3u forming a sea-t whose diameter is substantially that of the inner surface of depending collar 2S of cap 24.

As shown-in Fig. 1 shoulder 28 on tab 2l and a similar shoulder 3| on tab 23 extend inwardly under seat 3U when the snap cap 24 is in closed position. Tab 2l is rigid enough to hold the cap in closed position against the action of spring I8 tending to force the spout up, but will yield to a moderate lifting action to allow the cap to be opened and the spout to be projected upwardly. An annular gasket 32 carried by cap 24, around inside the collar 26 thereof, engages the top of curled-over seat 3U and, on its inner side, engages the outer peripheral edge of iiange I 2 thereby providing double security against leakage. Resilient clip 22, as best shown in Fig. 7, is formed of a piece of relatively rigid spring wire having legs 33 which are bent to embrace collar 4, but which fall short of completing a circle, so that the clip may be 4snapped onto or removed from the collar at any desired time. While this advantage as an element ofthe spout unit of this invention it is obvious that it would iind ready application as a closure for any opening provided with a neck and a seat for the cap gasket.

To secure the contents of the container against tampering While the same is in transit and until the purchaser is ready to use such contents, there is employed a seal cap 34. This may be of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,982,145, issued to John W. Shera, or may be of any other desired type which will fit the situation. Said seal cap has a depending flange 35 which is crimped around and under seat 3G, while a gasket 3B is carried by a depressed portion around the head of the seal cap and engages around the outer edge of the top of snap cap 24 to act as another guard against leakage. If score lines are provided across the top of the seal cap as is customary in this type, the cap may be punctured along such lines without damage to snap cap 24 by the puncturing implement since suicient leeway is allowed by depression 25 in snap cap 24. This depressed portion, as shown in Fig. 1, seats in the mouth of spout II.

When the user receives a container equipped with a spout of this character, the rst thing he must do is puncture the seal cap Si on one or more of the score lines thereof and remove such cap by tearing along the score lines. Then, all he need do is to grasp ring 2B giving the same a slight outward pull to disengage shoulder 28 from seat 39, whence the snap cap 24 can be swung on its pivot to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. As soon as spout il is released it is obvious that it will spring to the operative position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and will'be held there somewhat firmly since spring i8 is still acting on it through horizontal end coils 2li and 2l.

Thus, even though the spout be rested on something while the contents of the container are poured therethrough, the spout will tend to maintain its proper position. As the container is to be tilted away from the direction of extension of vent pipe I5, sufficient air will enter the .side of the spout adjacent the end i6 of pipe I5 to allow a ycurrent of air to run through pipe l5 and be emitted at upper end Il to substantially prevent pulsations in the pouring action. This is due to the fact that containers of this type when filled normally have an air space equal to about 4% of their cubic capacity above the fluid therein. When the user has dispensed all of the contents desired at one time he may retract the spout against the action of the spring I8 and again close the container by swinging cap 24 to its closed position wherein shoulder 28 snaps over seat 30. When this has` been done the container may be moved from place to place without any spilling due to careless handling since gaskets I9 `and 32 provide a safe lock against leakage.

A slightly modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 4 to 6 where parts similar to those in Figs. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reierence characters with primes ailxed thereto. In this modification head 3 is provided with a. mounting and supporting collar 4 whose inwardly extending flange 5 is engaged between reverse flange 6' and portion 8 of the head stock. yA gasket 9 lies between 5 and 6' the same as in the form of Fig. 1. Likewise a spout I I' slides through an aperture I past surface I0 and has at its ends flanges I2 and I3'. The latter carries gasket I4' and vent pipe I5' with lower and upper end openings I6' and I'I.

Instead of the single spring completely embracing the spout, as in the form of Fig, 1, two

amigas@ or more individual springs I5 are employed at equally spaced points about the periphery of spout l l. Guide pins 46 are secured to flange I2 in any desired manner are provided to keep the springs 45 in alignment. The manner illustrated for securing these guide pins in place, as shown in Fig. 5, is by pressing the upper ends 41 thereof into apertures in flange I2. As shown in Fig, 4,` guide pins 4B stop short of engagement with a washer 48 formed of rigid material which rests upon the top of gasket I9', while springs 45, fully compressed when the spout is retracted, are received in the annular channel between the inner wall of collar and the outer wall of spout il'.

From the showing of Fig. 5, it is seen that even in the extended position of the spout, springs 45 engage both 'the underside of ange l2', where they surround guide pins 45, and the upper side of washer dit. In doing this they retain the spout in extended operative position with substantial rigidity. Washer im, engaged by the lower ends oi springs do, surrounds the spout and distributes the downward pressure of springs d5 around the circumference oi wiping gasket lil', so that the same cannot at any point ride up with the spout.

The snap cap .'i with its depressed center 25', its tabs 23' and 2i', its shoulder 2li and its resilient clip 22 is in all respects the same as the cap employed in the form of Figs. l to 3. Ukevvlse the iinger ring 29 and the sealing cap 3d are the same in both forms. 'Hence depending ange and gasket 3d of the sealing cap are the same throughout. These latter engage curled end iid' the same as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 3.

The operation oi the form shown in liigs 4-6 is the same as that in the form oi Figs l-S, so that repetition of the same is not necessary. is pointed out above even the horizontally distributed thrust provided by the flattened end coils 2d and 2i of spring i8 is provided for in the form of Figs. li--G by means' oi flange it' and washer dll.

Figs. 8 and 9 show slight modications of the linger grip feature of the snap cap. In'Fig. 8 the retaining tab El is bent up against itself at oil and hooked over inwardly to form a ledge El which is readily engageable by the fingers. In the form shown in Fig. 9 the end of tab 21 is rolled upon itself as shown at 52 and retains in the roll a wire loop 53 which can be readily grasped when it is desired to open the cap.

It can be seen from the above that the invention provides a leakproof spout which is fully automatic in operation and fool proof. Furthermore it obviates the necessity of groping with the fingers to iind the spout and extend it to operative position. In combining with this the particular type of snap cap employed, which not only holds the spout in closed position and prevents leakage but also allows the use of a tamper-proof seal, the invention providesa most eective and advantageous construction.

rIhe herein disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the manner in which the invention can be put into practice so are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a spout unit for containers, a spout member forming part of said unit and slidably mount-- ed therein i or movement into extended or retracted position, and means for urging said spout member into fully extended position, said means 2. In a spout unit for receptacles, a retractible spout member, means for preventing leakage about said spout member, and means for simultaneously projecting said spout l member into fully operative position and retaining said leakage preventing nieans in edective position during said projecting.

3. In a. spout unit for containers, a spout member forming part of said unit and slidably mounted therein for movement into extended or retracted position, and means operating throughout substantially the entire length of said member for supporting the same against tilting laterally whenit is in extended position.

4. In a spout construction, a. spout member mounted for sliding movement into extended and retracted position, means for urging said spout member into extended position and vent means operably associated with said spout member in all positions o its movement.

5. In a spout unit for containers, means for mounting said unit on a container, a spout member carried by said mounting means and slidable with respect thereto and means surrounding said spout member and operable throughout the length thereof for urging said spout member into operative position and supporting it in said position.

6. In a spout unit for containers, means for mounting said unit on a container, a spout member carried by said mounting means and slidable with respect thereto and means for urging said spout member into fully operative position and supporting it in said position, said means engaging a portion of said spout member on one end and engaging leakage preventing means on the other end to retain the same in leakage preventing position.

7. In a spout unit for containers, means for mounting said unit on a container, a spout member carried by said mounting means and slidable with respect thereto, means surrounding said spout member for urging the same into fully operative position and vent means carried by one end of said spout member.

8. In a spout unit for containers, means for mounting said unit on a container, a spout member carried by said mounting means and slidable with respect thereto and means acting at spacedpoints about said spout for urging the same to operative position.

9. In a. retractible spout device, a conduit member forming a spout, means for mounting said spout slidably with respect to a container and separate spring means for urging said spout to operative position.

10. In a retractible spout device, a conduit member forming a spout, means for mounting said spout slidably with respect to a container and separate spring means operating at spaced positions about said spout for urging said spout to operative position.

11. In a spout unit'or containers, a spout, spring means about said spout, a gasket retained in place by one end of said spring means, said gasket surrounding said spout and engaging thereagainst, and a lip on said spout for engaging the other end of said spring means, said gasket being retained in place by said spring means in all positions of said spout whereby leakage around said spout is prevented.

12. A spout unit for containers comprising concentric spout and mounting members forming an annular channel therebetween, a gasket supported in the bottom of said channel and arranged in wiping relationship to said spout member, a lip on the upper end of said spout member partially closing said channel when said spout member is in retracted position and means in said channel engaging said gasket and said lip for retaining saidgasket in position and for urging said spout member to extended position.

13. In combination, a retractible spout, means for mounting the spout in a wall of a container. means tending to move said spout into extended position, a readily openable cap for holding said spout in retracted position pivotally mounted on said mounting means and co-mating means on said cap and mounting means for releasably retaining said cap in closed position.

14. In combination a retractible spout, means for mounting the spout in a wall of a container, a readily 'openable cap for holding said spout'in retracted position pivotally mounted on said A mounting means, co-mating means on said cap and mounting means for releasably retaining said cap in closed position, and a seal cap secured on said mounting means over said openable cap to lock the same in closed position and provide a seal for the mounting. i

15. A readily installed cap for receptacles comprising a disc like member, tabs extending later'- ally from said disc like member, a resilient mounting member pivoted to one of said tabs and another of said tabs being provided with means for releasably retaining said cap in closed position.

16. A readily installed cap for receptacles coinprising a disc like member having a depressed center portion, tabs extending laterally from the periphery of said member, means associated with one of said tabs for removably and pivotally mounting said cap on a receptacle and means on another of said tabs for releasably holding said cap in closed position.

17. A readily installed cap for receptacles having an opening in the form of a neck, comprising a disc like element having a lateral ange therearound, tabs extending from said flange at spaced points, one of said tabs carrying means for detachablyand pivotally mounting said cap about said neck and another of said tabs having means for releasably retaining said cap in closed position.

FRANK FUREDY. 

